Febuary 2025 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends,   This sure has been a wintry winter so far. If you live south of Buffalo like we do, you have had feet of snow over the last 2 months. North, not so much. It’s like 2 different worlds. There are advantages to a solid snow cover. It’s a protective blanket to prevent temperature fluctuations which can damage plants and their roots. Some winter tips are below.   Garden Tips:   If you are having ice build-up in driveways and sidewalks, be cautious of what you use to melt the ice. Salt can be very damaging to the soil, plants, and the environment in general. Check the contents of any product you use. It would be wise to shovel the black nasty salt laden “gunk” in the driveway somewhere other than garden beds. My back garden abuts the driveway, so this is always an issue for me. I used to wonder why the plants along the drive never did well! It’s a little more effort, but worth it.  If you have some trees or shrubs bent or frozen to the ground, just keep being patient and let them melt out naturally. It’s more damaging to try and remove the branch. When there is a heavy snow build up on beaches you can gently brush it off. If the snow is frozen on the branch it’s best to leave it and let it melt naturally. If you didn’t clean and sharpen your tools last fall now is a perfect time. They will be ready to go when you need them in the spring. Most places that sell garden supplies have sharpeners. You can use steel wool to remove rust and Goo Gone to remove the sticky sap build up. Don’t forget to clean and sharpen shovels also. It makes a huge difference and your tools will last a lifetime.   Pruning:   This is a good time to prune. Any day that’s nice enough to work outside is fine. It’s not too early. First check for wind/storm damaged or dead branches. It’s best to remove torn or broken branches. A nice clean pruning cut is much easier for the tree/shrub to heal in the spring.  The ideal time to prune non spring blooming trees & shrubs is while they are still dormant, and their buds have not begun opening. Anything that blooms in the spring should be pruned AFTER they bloom. Usually, spring pruning can be done well into March. Once the buds start to open it’s past the ideal time. Some years that was May! It all depends on the weather. That being said, if you don’t get to it before the buds open you won’t hurt the plant. The basic pruning rule is don’t leave stubs. Make clean cuts close to a bud, branch divide or outside the branch collar on the trunk. Sharpen and clean those pruners and loppers before starting. It really makes a difference. For details on pruning specific plants check online at an “.edu” site or contact me for a pruning consultation.   Houseplants: Now is a good time to spend some time with your houseplants. A mid- winter “shower” in the sink or bathtub will wash off the accumulated dust and make for a healthier plant. If a plant is too large to move, you can use a damp cloth or soft sponge to wipe down the leaves. Now that the days are getting longer you can resume a light plant food application. If you use fertilizer look for a natural rather than chemical formula. Just read the ingredients and follow the directions. I tend to use half strength. Over fertilization is counter productive. You can also start spring repotting houseplants that have become pot bound. If the water drains right through when you water it or if the roots are pushing the plant out of the pot, those are good signs that the plant is pot bound. Another sign to indicate repotting is crusty salt build up on the top of the soil. This residue may be on the outside of terra cotta pots as well. The pots can be scrubbed off before repotting. If the soil crust isn’t severe the top few inches of crusted soil can be removed and replaced with fresh potting soil. Also check for aphids, mealybugs, spider mites and other houseplant pests. Feeling a sticky residue or seeing webbing around a plant is a good sign there is an insect problem. A good soapy water bath is a solution to many problems. Annual Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale:   The Soil & Water Conservation annual seedling sale is available for ordering now. This is a great way to get inexpensive tree and shrub seedings. The sale runs through mid May with pickup mid April-May. Order early as some things sell out. Go to their website (below) for order forms and compete information on what’s available and how to plant seedlings.   https://www.ecswcd.org/html/treeshrub.html   Educational Opportunities: There are lots of events coming up that will help you learn and get into the mood for spring.     Communities in Bloom Classes (February 2023)   The 20th Annual Community in Bloom Classes: There will be two different topics each day. Cost is $25 per day. Registration is required. To register go to: erie.cce.cornell.edu/events or contact [email protected] or (716) 652-5400 ext176. Time: 9:00 - 11:45 AM. Registration starts at 8:30 AM. Saturday, February 8 Aurora Senior Center,101 King Street, East Aurora 14052 9:00 – 10:15 am          ‘Building a Climate Resilient Garden’ As our climate changes, gardeners can look to increasing biodiversity, selecting the “right plant for the right place”.                                     10:30 – 11:45 am        ‘Critter Management’ Strategies to deal with hungry critters who think your yard is a buffet and some plants they typically avoid.                                      Saturday, February 22 Location TBD 9:00- 10:15 am            ‘A New Invasive Pest: Box Tree Moth’ Management of the box tree moth requires a combination of cultural, biological, and chemical control methods in an Integrated Pest Management plan.    10:30 – 11:45 am        ‘Plant Propagation Methods’ Techniques covered: leaf, stem and softwood cuttings, layering, and division as methods of expanding your collection of indoor and outdoor plant varieties                                                 MG Education Day:   This year MGED is Saturday March 8, 2025 at Classics V Banquet Center on Niagara Falls Blvd. The day runs from 9:00 – 3:00 including a hot lunch buffet. Cost: $60. Those of you who have attended in the past know what a fun and educational day this is. We have 2 outstanding presenters:   Kim Eierman - environmental horticulturist and landscape designer specializing in ecological landscapes. She is also the author of numerous books. She will give two presentations: Keynote: Beyond Sustainability: Using Our Landscapes as a Source of Environmental Change Creating a Succession of Bloom in the Native Garden Margaret Lapp - Director of Planning & Curation - Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. She is also a Landscaper and certified Arborist. Her topic will be:  Purposeful Plant Selection for Sustainable Garden Design   Trust me, you won’t want to miss this amazing and fun day. To register go to: erie.cce.cornell.edu/events or contact [email protected] or (716) 652-5400 ext176.     Trust me, you won’t want to miss this amazing and fun day. To register go to: erie.cce.cornell.edu/events or contact [email protected] or (716) 652-5400 ext176.   Garden Consult: It’s not too early to start planning for spring gardening, changes and improvements. Just contact me for an appointment to get ahead start on the season. Happy gardening! Lyn Chimera Lessons from Nature 170 Pine St. E. Aurora, NY 14052 [email protected] 716- 652-2432   Copyright © 2025 Lessons from Nature, All rights reserved. You're receiving this message because you requested to receive Lessons from Nature newsletters. Our mailing address is: Lessons from Nature 37 N Union Rd Williamsville, NY 14221 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.